WESTERN Approaches Museum in Liverpool has made history by becoming the first museum in the UK to become sponsors of a national league football club, partnering with Tranmere Rovers Football Club to promote local heritage and expand community engagement. 

Western Approaches HQ was formerly a top-secret command centre for the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War and now preserves the vital history of Allied naval operations, showcasing the strategic efforts that helped turn the tide of the war. 

The museum has recently announced a unique partnership with Tranmere Rovers Football Club becoming the first museum in the UK to sponsor a professional football team.

The collaboration coincides with the club's 140th anniversary year and aims to promote the museum and broaden local awareness ahead of a new Battle of the Atlantic museum opening in Wirral in Spring 2026. 

As part of the partnership, signage promoting Western Approaches is now visible inside and outside Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park stadium. The two organisations have already collaborated on a cultural engagement programme with children from the Hive Youth Zone, and several exciting new fan-led heritage initiatives are being planned. 

Western Approaches has also just become the first museum in the UK to achieve the prestigious Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme – the country’s highest badge of honour given to organisations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting veterans and the Armed Forces community.  

Dean Paton, CEO of Big Heritage, said: “Our partnership with Tranmere Rovers highlights our commitment to finding new and innovative ways to engage with the community.

"These two historic firsts – being recognised for our support of veterans and becoming the first museum to sponsor a national league football club – reflect how we consistently push boundaries and challenge what it means to be a museum. Whether it’s honouring our Armed Forces or creating meaningful local connections, we are always looking to lead the way into the future while staying true to our mission of connecting people to the past.”